Page 132

It was screaming.

Hurt, scared, and in agonizing pain.

What kind of a monster could cause an innocent creature to wail? Even if some of the animals on the ranch are raised for human consumption, slaughter can be done humanely. And these assholes aren’t killing the animal for food. It’s to prove a point.

That they can.

That they’re close to us.

That we should be scared.

And I might be scared, but I need to help Gavin avenge all the damage that’s been caused to our lives.

Real hunters don’t try to hurt or maim animals. They go for kill shots so the animal doesn’t suffer. And no one is hunting at two in the morning on private property.

Something is very wrong.

The police haven’t arrived yet, Bobby isn’t here to help Gavin, their dad doesn’t need the stress, we can’t trust anyone who works on the ranch, and we can’t put Cade in danger. Plus, it would take him time we don’t have to drive here.

No one can help Gavin other than me.

The man I love is alone.

While I hide.

Well, no more.

Gavin gave me a fully automatic tactical rifle that’s ready to shoot. And I’m ready to use it. Shit is going down, and I don’t know who is going to be standing at the end of it.

But I need to try. I need to fight. And I’m not going to sit around waiting for Gavin or anyone else to save me.

It’s my turn to save him and myself.

I step into boots and carefully slip out the front door, giving my eyes a second to adjust to the darkness. Gavin loves the peace and tranquility of the ranch and what he calls the nighttime silence.

But it’s not silent, not for an outsider like me.

The dead of night has horror movie scenarios racing through my head. It’s the one we’ve all seen where the group of teenagers is sleeping in a cabin in the woods. The calm before the storm. The audience is just waiting for a scream, a gunshot, an attack.

I’m used to the city – the sirens, the shouting, the bright lights.

My first apartment was so close to the airport that I couldn’t sleep for the full first week. It was like the planes were taking off from my bed. But after a while, I just stopped noticing. Your mind can adjust to anything it needs to. Survival mode.

And lying in bed with Gavin’s arms wrapped around me, I can find comfort in the background noise that he doesn’t even notice anymore. I pray that one day it becomes my peace, too, and that we get to live here together forever.

The trees swaying in the breeze.

Some of the animals moving around and making the odd noise.

Creaks from the outbuildings as they settle.

Winter muffles everything and summer has an even louder soundtrack with buzzing insects and chirping birds, but there’s still enough noise that I’m struggling to tune it out and find Gavin.

The blood roars in my ears, and I order my pulse to slow down. I’m in phenomenal shape and it’s not going to physically exert me to track these fuckers down. But my body still wants to pant anyway, as though my lungs are on fire.

Fear is trying to take over and I stomp it down, trying to just listen and focus on anything that’s out of place.

The property is so big that I can’t just walk around aimlessly wasting time. I need to pinpoint where Gavin is and then get there as quickly and silently as possible.